Tag: Death

Javier Fernando Arango was killed in the crash of his Nieuport 28 replica last Sunday near Paso Robles, California. Arango, aged 54 ans, was a board member emeritus of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museumet and owner of “one of the world’s finest private collections of World War I aircraft.” Sources: The Tribune (San Luis Obispo) …

Gaël Taburet, the last surviving Normandie-Niémen pilot, passed away on February 10 in Southern France, aged 97. Born in 1919, Taburet enlisted in the French air force in 1938 and received his pilot’s wings in 1939. In January 1944, he volunteered to join the Normandie fighter regiment (later renamed Normandie-Niémen by Stalin in recognition of …

John “Jock” Moffat, the Swordfish pilot who crippled the German battleship Bismarck on 26 May 1941, has died at the age of 97. On the day of the attack, it is believed that Moffat and his crew were able to launch a torpedo that struck and jammed Bismarck’s rudder, preventing it from escaping from the …

John Herschel Glenn Jr. passed away today, aged 95. While he is especially famous for being the first American to orbit the Earth, he led a very rich aeronautical career as a fighter and test pilot, and was three times a US senator. Born in 1921, Glenn joined the US Navy after Pearl Harbor and …

Legendary pilot Bob Hoover passed away today aged 94. He is often considered as one of the greatest pilots of all times. Born in 1922, Hoover became a fighter pilot and flew 59 combat missions before being shot down in 1944. He was captured and spent 16 months in German prisons before escaping by stealing …

A P-51D Mustang crashed this Sunday afternoon in Topcroft near Norwich in the United-Kingdom. The passenger, a man in his eighties, was killed in the crash. The pilot was seriously injured and was airlifted to the hospital. The accident aircraft is P-51D Mustang “Janie”, owned and operated by Maurice Hammond from Hardwick the former RAF …

Scotty Wilson, test pilot of the Bugatti 100P replica and leader and mentor of the group, was killed last Saturday during the 3rd test flight of the aircraft shortly after take-off. “Scotty’s aviation career spans six decades and nearly 11,000 hours in everything from Cubs to F-16s. After a thirty-year Air Force career, Scotty transitioned to …

David J. Thatcher, one of the two remaining survivors of the famous Doolittle Raid, passed away on June 22, 2016 in Missoula, Montana. “Dick” Cole, a close friend of Thatcher, is now the sole surviving member of the group of 80 men who attacked Japan on 18 April 1942. Although such honours are rarely accorded …

The American ace of Greek origin Spiros Pisanos, known as “Steve” or the “Flying Greek”, passed away on June 6, aged 96. He was credited with 10 confirmed aerial victories during World War II and received 33 decorations and distinctions during his career as a fighter pilot, which lasted until 1974. Born in Greece in …

The pilot of the P-47 “Jacky’s Revenge” was killed during a crash in the Hudson river. An initial New Jersey PD statement indicated that the pilot had been rescued with minor injuries, but this statement was later retracted. The pilot was identified as Bill Gordon of Connecticut. Gordon flew P-47D Thunderbolt “Jacky’s Revenge” for the …

The famous Eric “Winkle” Brown, one of World War Two’s best-known veteran and test pilot passed away today aged 97. Born in 1919, Captain Eric Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS, RN discovered aviation in 1936 in Germany with Ernst Udet and joined the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm during the war. His superb pilot …

Air Commodore John Mitchell, who has died aged 97, was the navigator of Winston Churchill’s personal aircraft during the Second World War. A veteran of a bomber tour and a specialist navigator, Mitchell was selected for the crew flying Churchill’s VVIP aircraft in late 1942. Earlier, the prime minister had flown in RAF and civil …

Two people were killed yesterday in the crash of the North American P-51D Mustang N351BD “Big Beautiful Doll” near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot has been identified as Jeff Pino, former president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and owner of the aircraft since May 2014. The identity of the passenger has not been revealed. Witnesses reported hearing …

Flight Lieutenant Eric Garland, who has died aged 95, served throughout the Second World War, initially in the Army and then with the RAF; he was decorated three times, including two MCs for gallantry. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.

Squadron Leader Keith Thiele, who has died aged 94, was decorated four times as a bomber and a fighter pilot and was one of only four New Zealand-born airmen to earn three DFCs; he also won a DSO. Read his obituary on The Telegraph.